Spies in our Spectacles: Be Wary of Meta Glasses
Meta glasses - once a rare “unicorn” of technology, and quite a rarity - have become increasingly common to encounter. These glasses sound like something straight out of science fiction, created as a combination of advanced technology from Meta (Facebook) and the classy style of EssilorLuxottica (Ray-Ban). The glasses feature cameras, audio recording devices, displays, a fully integrated AI assistant and speakers, letting users record, take pictures, text, listen to music and ask “Meta” about what they are seeing around them.
With such an impressive arsenal of features that the glasses wield, there are ethical concerns raised over the scope of power they hold. Meta’s ability to record anywhere, anytime and anyone discreetly raises eyebrows on the infringement of privacy and personal information. Although there is a blinking light indicating the glasses are recording, news outlets have been quick to point out that the lights are subtle, and workarounds to disable this function are available on the internet. Meta has already been used to secretly record others and post it on public social media platforms, with some influencers recording women without consent and using the power of the glasses to stalk and creep on others. Meta entrusts its users to follow laws and notify others when they are being recorded - however, there is never a guarantee that users will follow these laws and use the glasses in a legal manner.
Meta’s cameras and recording features aren’t just a threat to all others around the user, but the user themselves. Reports have found that human subcontracting teams watch Meta users, even in times they are not recording, and have the capability to view incredibly personal and sensitive footage for AI development and training. Many users of Meta aren’t aware of the fact that real people could be watching at any moment no matter how private they want to keep some of their information and footage, alongside the fact that their data could be used to train the AI. Meta glasses have the power to peer into anyone’s privacy and act as spyware, and in the wrong hands or in a potential data breach, this footage can have devastating consequences.
Meta currently fully relies on users to make smart decisions when using the glasses, and assumes that users will have decency in asking others for consent in recording, turning the device off in private settings, and understanding that all information going through the glasses is subject to being used as a source for Meta’s AI itself. However, considering how powerful the glasses are and its what it is able to do at its full potential, simply betting that users will use the glasses in a socially responsible manner is too risky, especially after factoring anyone could walk into their local Best Buy and purchase a pair.
The government has begun raising an eye to the power of Meta. Some courts have started to ban Meta glasses, citing they are an “illegal recording device” and believe they overstep the boundaries of being able to record others in private. Federal courts have begun looking into the nature of the technology and how footage is recorded and used. With technology this advanced and capable of carrying out the user’s will, I believe that there needs to be some regulation, transparency or limitation on purchasing the product. Perhaps third-party contractors could investigate the subcontracting work done in Kenya to ensure data is secure and being used for company purposes, a license or paperwork is needed to make sure users can’t abuse the product or create serious repercussions to violators of the privacy agreements. Meta simply can’t trust everyone to be socially conscious; they must take action in making sure others’ privacy can’t be compromised.
